What it is:
Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

What it is:
TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

What it is:
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

What it is:
HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

When it matters:
Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different uses

Good value:
IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.

:
WRGB

Resolution
:
4k

The LG B8 is a 4k OLED TV with excellent picture quality, especially when viewed in a dark room. It can produce perfectly deep blacks due to the emissive technology, and has excellent motion handling with an instantaneous response time. The image also remains accurate when viewed at an angle, which is good for those who have wide seating. It isn't without downsides though, as the screen brightness changes depending on the content which can be distracting, and there may be a risk of permanent burn-in if you watch long periods with static content.

Current deal: The LG B8 is available on B&H with an additional gift card, with a value from $145 to $225 depending on the size selected.

Check Price

Design

Score components:
Subjectively assigned

Score distribution:

Curved
:
No

The design of the LG OLED B8 is excellent. It has a feel of premium both due to the build quality and the sleek design. The design is almost identical to the C8 but with a different stand. On the B8, the stand that supports the TV is not very wide and will fit in most tables. If you choose to wall mount the TV most inputs will be easily accessible. The operating temperature of the TV is good and you should have no issues with it. Care should be taken when handling the TV as the panel is extremely thin and can be easily damaged if not handled properly.

Stand

The stand is metallic and provides a steady support to the TV. It is quite narrow and will fit in most tables. It resembles the stand of last years' C7.

Footprint of the 65" TV stand: 21.7" x 8.9"

Back

Wall Mount
:
VESA 300x200

The back of the TV is plain and resembles a lot the back of previous OLED LG TVs. There is only basic cable management as you can see here. The HDMI inputs are facing to the side and would be easily accessible if wall mounted, but there are a few secondary ones on the back that are facing outwards and may be difficult to access. The control button is located on the back to the side, similar to the C8.

Borders

Borders
:
0.39" (1.0 cm)

The borders of the LG B8PUA are very thin and look great and look very similar to the LG C8.

Thickness

Max Thickness
:
1.93" (4.9 cm)

The TV panel is extremely thin like most latest LG OLEDs. The thickness of the TV, which is still quite thin, is only due to the electronics compartment.

Temperature

Maximum Temperature

What it is:
The peak temperature found on the TV.

When it matters:
If the TV is placed in an enclosed space.

Good value:
<35°C

Noticeable difference:
5°C

:
99 °F (37 °C)

Average Temperature

What it is:
The average temperature measured on the TV.

When it matters:
If the TV is placed in an enclosed space.

Good value:
<35°C

Noticeable difference:
5°C

:
90 °F (32 °C)

The TV runs fairly cool, and will not cause any issues.

9.0Build Quality

The build quality of the LG OLED B8 is excellent. There are no obvious build issues or gaps and the TV feels solid. You should be careful when moving the TV because of the thin screen.

The picture quality of the LG OLED B8 is remarkable. It has an infinite contrast ratio that delivers perfect blacks and thus it is great for watching movies in a dark room. It has good viewing angles that allow viewing from the side without compromising the picture quality, and it has excellent reflection handling. These features make it a good choice for large bright rooms. When viewing HDR content, the highlights are bright and the colors are rich. Gray uniformity is also very good and will please sports fans.

10Contrast

What it is:
Brightness difference between white and black. This is the main component of picture quality.

Good value:
Full-array/direct lighting is better for local dimming. As for the uniformity of the screen, it depends on the implementation. Some edge-lit TVs have more uniform blacks than some full-array TVs.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity the TV can obtain while playing a movie or while watching a TV show. Our Real Scene was selected to represent a more regular movie condition. All measurements are made with the TV set to be as bright as possible, but with a 6500k white. Measured with local dimming on, max backlight and with an SDR signal. Scene: here.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

When it matters:
Bright highlights, present on screen for a short time

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over SDR signal.

The SDR peak brightness of the LG OLED B8 is very good. The TV gets bright enough to be placed in most rooms. The small highlights look bright in SDR content, but as the whole screen brightness increases the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) is activated and the screen gets dimmer. This is not an abnormal behavior and is also encountered in other premium models like the LG C8, which has very similar behavior. The difference in brightness between the B8 and C8 may be due to panel variance. The B8 is significantly less bright than the LED Sony X900F or the QLED Samsung Q8FN.

Update 11/27/2018: We retested with the latest firmware (04.10.06) and found that, while the HDR brightness remained generally unchanged, the SDR brightness decreased by 50 cd/m² in all but the 100% window which remained unchanged. Results found above are updated.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity the TV can obtain while playing a movie or while watching a TV show. This scene was selected to represent a more realistic movie condition. All measurement are made with the TV set to be as bright as possible, but with a 6500k white. Measured with local dimming, max backlight and over HDR signal. Scene: here.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright highlights, present on screen for a short time; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright objects, present on screen for a short time; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The maximum luminosity, even if only maintained for a short time, of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 2% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright highlights, persistent throughout a scene; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 10% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

When it matters:
Bright objects, persistent throughout a scene; especially for HDR content.

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 25% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 50% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

What it is:
The lowest maximum luminosity (usually after it has stabilized) of a white square covering 100% of the screen, with the TV set to be as bright as possible. Measured with local dimming and over HDR signal (if supported).

The HDR peak brightness is decent. This is worse than the C8 model which gets about 100 nits brighter in our real scene test pattern. Part of this may be due to panel variance, and part of it may be due to an algorithm change with a firmware update. We will retest our C8 to see if the brightness behavior has changed. Although the TV can display small highlights well, as larger areas of the screen are lit the level of the brightness diminishes due to the Automatic Bright Limiter (ABL) and this is not good. The LG B8 can't get as bright as high-end LED TVs like the Sony X900F or QLED Samsung Q8FN that have excellent HDR brightness.

The gray uniformity of the LG OLED B8 is very good and most people will not notice any clouding. This makes it a very good TV for sports watching as the great gray uniformity results in very little dirty screen effect during wide panning shots.

However, in the 5% gray uniformity picture there are some vertical bands that are visible when watching dark scenes in a dark room. We've found similar behavior on other 2018 OLED like the C8 and A8F. This is only rarely noticeable in a dark room.

The viewing angles are very good just like most OLEDs. This makes it a great choice for wide rooms since the picture quality remains good even when watching from the side. When viewed at an angle, colors do shift, but less than LCD TVs with a VA or IPS panel.

The LG B8 has excellent reflection handling. There is a glossy finish that makes reflections more well defined but at a very low intensity. There is a slight purple tint to the reflections due to the antireflective coating. This is very common in other high-end TVs like the C8 and or the Q8FN and is not really noticeable. You should have no problem using this TV in a bright room.

What it is:
The color temperature is a measure of the color of light. A colder color temperature (7000K) will look bluer and a warmer color temperature (4000K) will look yellower/redder. 6500K is the standard color temperature use in the TV and film industry as program, film, and photography directors usually work on monitors calibrated on the 6500k color temperature and do their color correction base on what they see on those monitors.

When it matters:
To get the most accurate picture when watching TV shows, movies or video games. This is particularly for skin tones.

The out-of-the-box color accuracy is decent. The best results were obtained when the Picture Mode was set to Expert(Dark Room). The white dE and the color dE were greater than our threshold of 3 and some people will notice those inaccuracies. Gamma was at 2.38 and thus shadows will look too bright, whereas the color temperature was warm with red and yellow tones dominating the image.

What it is:
The color temperature is a measure of the color of light. A colder color temperature (7000K) will look bluer and a warmer color temperature (4000K) will look yellower/redder. 6500K is the standard color temperature use in the TV and film industry as program, film, and photography directors usually work on monitors calibrated on the 6500k color temperature and do their color correction base on what they see on those monitors.

When it matters:
To get the most accurate picture when watching TV shows, movies or video games. This is particularly for skin tones.

The post calibration color accuracy is remarkable. The white dE is almost perfect and the color dE is well below 3. Gamma is spot on 2.2, and the color temperature is very close to the target of 6500K.

The LG B8 has an excellent wide color gamut as it covers an impressive amount of the DCI P3 color space and also performs very well in Rec 2020. These results are nearly identical to the C8.

In the Cinema HDR picture mode the TV's EOTF follows the target PQ curve fairly closely, until it starts to roll off gradually to the TV's peak brightness. If you find HDR content too dim you can set the Dynamic Contrast setting to High, which raises the EOTF and brightens most HDR scenes. The EOTF in the Game picture mode is nearly identical to that of Cinema, which is good.

In HDR on our unit the black level was raised on the left side of the screen, but could be fixed by lowering the Brightness setting to 49. We don't expect most B8 units to have this issue, as we've seen a few OLEDs with black level issues in the past, and many have fixed themselves over time. We'll recheck the black level after the TV has 100 hours of cumulative use.

Update 11/15/2018: The TV has been now used for 127 hours, and the black level is no longer raised in HDR.

The color volume coverage is decent. Although the TV is has a wide color gamut it loses volume at the top because of its WRGB pixel structure. It can use the white subpixel to make white very bright, but it can't do the same to produce saturated colors, and thus the colors are not as bright.

The gradient on this TV is excellent. Although there is some banding in the above test image, in normal content very little or no banding is visible. We trust the full test results as we have seen this with other LG TVs like the SK8000 and the reason is explained well here.

The LG B8 shows almost no signs of image retention except for minor issues less than 2 minutes after recovery time and this is very hopeful.

Note however, that there is some panel variation even within the same model and some panels may be more or less prone to image retention. For example this is the same panel as the LG C8 we tested which shows more signs of image retention.

At the same time this test is only indicative of short-term image retention and not the permanent burn-in that may occur with prolonged exposure to static images. You can read about the test we are currently running to help us better understand permanent burn-in here.

Motion

The LG B8 has an excellent motion handling. It has an almost instantaneous response time which makes it a great choice for fast-moving content and playing video games. However, this can cause stutter on more slow fps content. Fortunately, the LG has an excellent motion interpolation feature that will do a great job at removing it.

Just like all OLED TVs, there is no visible backlight flicker. This helps motion appear smoother, but results in some persistence blur. If you want to minimize blur, you can enable the BFI option available in this TV.

The LG B8 has remarkable motion interpolation. It is nearly perfect during slow-moving shots, and it stops if there is too much motion. When fast motion is displayed some people might notice very few artifacts.

To interpolate low fps content to 60Hz, set TruMotion to User and raise the De-Judder slider. To interpolate 60Hz content to 120Hz, raise the De-Blur slider.

If you find the artifacts caused by motion interpolation bothersome, we recommend lowering the interpolation setting to make the algorithm more conservative, but this will also cause motion to look less smooth.

This LG OLED B8 has bad stutter on slow fps content. It has bad stutter on low fps content due to the instantaneous response time. This can result in jarring motion during panning shots on 24p movies. If you find stutter bothersome, you can remove it using the excellent motion interpolation features of the TV.

The LG B8P has excellent handling of judder as it can display 24p movies without judder from the most common sources. To remove judder the Real Cinema option must be turned on.

Update 10/05/2018: We have retested the B8 after firmware 04.10.06, and it is no longer necessary to set TruMotion to 'User' to remove Judder. Simply enabling Real Cinema will remove Judder from all sources on the B8. Like the C8, there is always judder when BFI is enabled.

What it is:
The out-of-the-box maximum refresh rate; how frequently the TV can refresh and show new frames.

When it matters:
When playing content with a frame rate that matches the TV's refresh rate (ex. 60 fps on a 60 Hz TV, 120 fps on a 120 Hz TV), or when using the TV's motion interpolation feature (soap opera effect).

Inputs

The LG B8 has a remarkably low input lag in most input formats. Thus, the TV is very responsive and will please most gamers. It supports most common resolutions including 1080p @ 120Hz and chroma 4:4:4 so it performs very well when used as a PC monitor. However, 1440p is not supported and this might disappoint some hardcore gamers.

What it is:
Lowest input lag possible on the TV when displaying 4k @ 60Hz with proper 4:4:4 chroma subsampling. The test is usually conducted with a 4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 signal, but a 4k @ 60 Hz @ Full RGB signal may be used if it's required for the TV to show proper 4:4:4 chroma subsampling.

4:4:4 chroma subsampling is only properly displayed in the PC input mode and when in that input mode, all picture modes have the same low input lag.

In HDR when 4:2:0 chroma is sent there's an extra 120 Hz frame (8.3 ms) of input lag. This bug was also seen on other 2018 LG TVs like the C8 and SK8000, and is explained in more detail in the SK8000 review.

Update 11/27/2018: We retested with the latest firmware update (04.10.06) and found two previous bugs had been fixed. Now 4k in HDR has the same input lag as in SDR and 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR is properly being displayed and has been measured.

What it is:
TV can receive and pass DTS 5.1 signal to receiver via HDMI ARC.

When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.

:
Yes

5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital

What it is:
TV can receive and pass Dolby Digital signal to receiver via digital optical.

When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.

:
Yes

5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS

What it is:
TV can receive and pass DTS signal to receiver via digital optical.

When it matters:
5.1 audio on DVDs and Blu-rays.

:
Yes

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith

What it is:
HDMI 2.0 is the main used HDMI standard and supports a range of video resolutions and refresh rates up to 4k@60Hz, with a total maximum bandwidth up to 18Gbps.

:
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)

HDMI 2.1 Full Bandwidth

What it is:
HDMI 2.1 is the latest update to the HDMI standard and supports a range of higher video resolutions and refresh rates including 8K60 and 4K120, and resolutions up to 10K. Dynamic HDR formats are also supported, and bandwidth capability is increased up to 48Gbps.

:
No

ARC

What it is:
Audio Return Channel (ARC) enables a TV to transmit, via an HDMI cable, audio data to an A/V receiver, without the need for any extra audio cables.

When it matters:
When connecting your audio/video receiver directly to your TV via an HDMI cable.

:
Yes (HDMI 2)

USB 3.0

What it is:
USB 3.0 is the latest USB standard which can transfer data up to 5 Gbit/s, and is easily recognizable due to its blue color-coding of the connector.

:
No

HDCP 2.2
:
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)

CEC
:
Yes

MHL
:
No

Variable Analog Audio Out
:
No

Wi-Fi Support
:
Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

7.2

Sound Quality

What it is:
How well and accurately the audio is reproduced.

When it matters:
When a good and accurate sound reproduction is needed.

The LG OLED B8 has an above-average sound quality. It gets quite loud, has a decent punch to its bass, and produces clear dialogue. However, it lacks sub-bass so it won't be able to produce any thump or rumble common to movie and video game effects, and its room correction system isn't very effective. For a better sound, dedicated speakers or a soundbar is recommended.

7.1Frequency Response

What it is:
How accurately the sound level of each frequency is being produced.

What it is:
The amount of deviation (weighted standard deviation) in frequency response measured with the TV at maximum volume, as compared to a target response that would sound perfectly balanced to most people.

When it matters:
Shows the TV's frequency response at under maximum load

The frequency response is decent. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 67Hz, which is above-average. This means this TV will have a good amount of punch to its bass, but won't be able to produce any thump or rumble in the sub-bass region. The response above the LFE point is quite good too, which is important for reproducing clear dialogue. Also, this TV can get pretty loud, but it would produce a bit of compression and pumping artifacts at maximum volume. Additionally, the room correction system of this TV (One Touch Sound Tuning) wasn't able to remove the modes of our test room around 200Hz.

What it is:
The average amount of inter-modulation distortion produced by the TV under maximum load. The percentage shown here is the average result of 3 separate test signals/standards: SMPTE, DIN, & CCIF

When it matters:
When a clean and free of aliasing reproduction is desired

What it is:
The average amount of inter-modulation distortion produced by the TV under maximum load. The percentage shown here is the average result of 3 separate test signals/standards: SMPTE, DIN, & CCIF

When it matters:
When a clean and free of aliasing reproduction is desired

The distortion performance is above-average. The overall amount of produced THD at 90dB SPL is low, but there's a noticeable rise in THD under heavier loads. This could make the sound a bit impure at higher volumes.

Smart Features

The LG B8PUA runs version 4.0 of LG's smart platform, webOS. Several common apps are pre-installed and you can always download more at LG's content store, though not as many as the Google's Play Store found on Sony TVs. The remote is the same as with other 2018 models like the LG C8 and the SK9000 and works very well. Unlike other 2018 LG OLEDs like the C8 that are equipped with the new Alpha 9 processor, the LG B8 still carries the Alpha 7 processor like last year's LG C7. This, however, should not be a problem as the interface is fast and works well with no major issues. The voice control features that have become a standard in modern TVs work very well and can interface with a variety of smart consumer electronics, like Google Assistant.

8.5Interface

What it is:
The usability, features and performance of the main interface of the TV, not including the interfaces of the apps themselves.

When it matters:
Anytime when using the TV, but especially when changing settings and using apps.

Score components:
Subjectively assigned

Score distribution:

Ease of Use

What it is:
How easy the interface is to navigate, affected by the organization of its layout, placing frequently accessed elements in areas that are faster to access, etc.

When it matters:
When using the smart features.

:
Easy

Smoothness

What it is:
How smooth the interface is to navigate, affected by lag and frame drops.

When it matters:
When using the smart features.

:
Average

Time Taken to Select YouTube

What it is:
How long it takes to select YouTube for launch, starting from HDMI 1 input, when YouTube is placed first on the list of apps or added as a shortcut. This does not include app launch time, and does not use a fixed YouTube button on a remote. This serves as an indication of the time needed to select any app.

When it matters:
When launching any app.

:
2 s

Time Taken to Change Backlight

What it is:
The time it takes to navigate to the 'Backlight' setting ('Brightness' on Sony TVs). This serves as an indication of how long it takes to navigate to basic TV settings.

When it matters:
When changing TV settings.

:
8 s

Advanced Options

What it is:
Whether advanced options and settings are available, such as color calibration.

When it matters:
When customizing the TV and using the smart features.

:
Many

The interface of the LG B8 is excellent. We did experience some frame drops when quickly going through the menus, but the overall experience is smooth and should not trouble anyone. It uses the Alpha 7 processor and so is slightly less smooth than other 2018 LG TVs which use the Alpha 9 processor, but this isn't very noticeable.

0Ad-Free

What it is:
Whether or not ads can be found on the TV's smart platform.

What it is:
The usability, features and performance of apps and other smart features.

When it matters:
Only when using smart features such as apps, casting and USB playback.

Score components:
Subjectively assigned

Score distribution:

App Selection

What it is:
The number and variety of apps available to download for the smart platform.

When it matters:
When downloading new apps.

:
Many

App Smoothness

What it is:
How smooth it feels to navigate the interfaces of apps, affected by lag and frame drops.

When it matters:
When using apps.

:
Average

Cast Capable

What it is:
Whether apps on a phone or tablet can cast content to the TV.

:
Yes

USB Drive Playback

What it is:
Whether the TV can play content from a drive connected to one of the TV's USB ports.

:
Yes

USB Drive HDR Playback

What it is:
Whether HDR files played from a USB drive can be displayed properly.

:
Yes

HDR in Netflix

What it is:
Whether HDR content on Netflix can be played back in HDR using the native Netflix app.

:
Yes

HDR in Amazon Video

What it is:
Whether HDR content on Amazon Video can be played in HDR using the native Amazon Video app.

:
Yes

HDR in YouTube

What it is:
Whether HDR content on YouTube can be played in HDR using the native YouTube app.

:
Yes

The TV comes preloaded with the most popular apps like Youtube, Netflix, and Amazon Video. You can download many more from the LG Content Store, that has an abundance of apps, more apps than most other smart platforms but not as many as on Samsung TVs and Android TVs.

9.0Remote

What it is:
The usability and features of the TV's physical remote.

Score components:
Subjectively assigned

Score distribution:

Size

What it is:
How big the remote is

:
Large

Voice Control

What it is:
The capabilities of the TV's voice control feature

:
Many Features

CEC Menu Control

What it is:
Whether the remote can act as a universal remote for HDMI CEC enabled devices. This was tested on our Samsung UBD-K8500 4K Blu-ray player, and may not be valid for other CEC devices as implementations vary by manufacturer.

:
Yes

Other Smart Features

What it is:
Whether the remote has any other smart features, such as a pointer, universal remote support for non HDMI CEC devices, etc.

:
Yes

The remote of the LG B8 is excellent. It has the same voice control as other 2018 LGs, with a mix of Google Assistant and ThinQ AI (these are voice operated assistance features).

The LG can perform several actions using voice. Some of the actions are: 'Change to HDMI 1' or 'Open YouTube' or even 'Search Netflix for Marco Polo'. Also, you can ask the assistant more general questions like 'How's the weather in Montreal', but you can not control the TV's settings with your voice, as commands like 'Change OLED Light to 5' will not work.

7.0Remote App

What it is:
The features of the official phone and tablet app for the TV.

Score components:
Subjectively assigned

Score distribution:

Acts as the Remote

What it is:
Whether the remote app can emulate all the buttons of the physical remote.

:
Yes

Directly Launches Apps and Inputs

What it is:
Whether the remote app can directly launch the TV's apps and change between its inputs, without requiring any interaction with menus on the TV.

:
Both

Inputs Text in YouTube

What it is:
Whether the remote app can enter text for YouTube searches.

:
No

Inputs Text in Netflix

What it is:
Whether the remote app can enter text for Netflix searches.

:
No

Streams Device Files

What it is:
Whether the remote app can stream files from the phone or tablet to the TV, files such as pictures, music and video.

:
Yes

Controls TV Settings

What it is:
Whether the app can change all or some of the settings on the TV, such as the backlight.

:
No

Voice Control

What it is:
Whether the remote can send voice commands to the TV.

:
Limited Support

The remote app is decent. Just like for the other 2018 LG TVs, the remote app can be used to perform a voice search, but it does not understand voice commands like the remote.

TV Controls

Like almost all 2018 LG TVs, the B8 has a single button on the back of the TV to control most functions of the TV. It works very well and its use is quite intuitive.

In The Box

Manual

Remote

Batteries

Composite adapter

Power cable: 59". (Not shown)

Misc

Power Consumption
:
78 W

Power Consumption (Max)
:
171 W

Firmware
:
03.01.30

Differences between Sizes and Variants

We tested the 55" model (OLED55B8PUA). For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 65" (OLED65B8PUA).

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their LG OLED 55B8PUA doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that due to variances between panels some results such as gray uniformity and image retention may vary between individual units.

The LG B8P offers excellent performance across the board and it is one of the best smart TVs we've tested. However, it isn't perfect and comes at a high price. Check out some of our comparisons below for different recommendations depending on your usage.

The LG C8 is very similar to the LG B8 for mixed usage. The C8 offers performance in the same ballpark and the small differences between the two TVs could be due to panel variance. The C8 has the newer Alpha 9 processor whereas the B8 still carries the Alpha 7 processor but we did not see a significant difference in performance.

The LG B8 OLED is a better TV than the Sony X900F. The OLED is better for watching movies in a dark room due to the perfect blacks. The C8 is also better for those with wide seating as the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. On the other hand, the Sony is a much brighter TV that does not have the burn-in risk and can be placed in bright environments.

The LG B8 is somewhat better than the LG C7. The B8 has a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that can introduce flicker to clear blur in fast-moving content, whereas the LG C7 has a lower input lag when you play HDR games. Other differences like the B8's less temporary image retention, or the C7's better gray uniformity can be attributed to panel variance.

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung Q7FN if burn-in is not a concern. The LG B8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks and amazing dark room performance. The LG has better viewing angles and the image remains good when viewed from the side. The LG B8 also has better reflection handling in case you have many small light sources where you watch TV. The Samsung Q7FN has lower input lag, supports FreeSync, and is great if you play video games. Finally, the Samsung Q7FN can get brighter, so it is a better choice if you have a very bright room.

The LG B8 is better than the Samsung Q8FN for most people unless burn-in is a concern. The LG B8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks that delivers outstanding dark room performance. The LG is better for a room with wide seating arrangement as it has better viewing angles and can handle the reflections of multiple small light sources better. On the other hand, the Samsung Q8FN is more responsive to your actions due to the lower input lag, supports FreeSync VRR and can get very bright to fight glare of bright rooms.

The LG B8 is somewhat better than the LG B7A. The LG B8 has slightly better motion handling due to the black frame insertion (BFI) feature which is great if you play video games and also the LG B8 performs somewhat better in temporary image retention if you use it as a PC monitor, although this could be due to panel variance. On the other hand, the LG B7A has marginally better input lag in HDR gaming and marginally better viewing angles, although both TVs are very good in that respect.

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung NU8000. The LG B8 has perfect blacks and delivers an excellent movie watching experience. It also has wider viewing angles and better reflection handling than the Samsung and is a better choice for wide seating arrangements or rooms with many light sources. The B8 also has a faster response time resulting in less blur when watching fast content. The Samsung NU8000 supports the FreeSync VRR implementation to help avoid tearing and also has lower input lag which is great if you play video games.

The LG B8 is much better than the Samsung Q6FN for most people unless you are too concerned about burn-in. The LG B8 has perfect blacks and is amazing for dark room viewing. The LG B8 has better reflection handling and better viewing angles, so if you have a large room with many small light sources, then it is a better choice. The Samsung Q6FN, on the other hand, can fight better bright room glare, has a lower input lag and supports FreeSync which is great for gaming.

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung NU7100 except for those who worry about burn-in. The LG B8 has perfect blacks, just like all OLEDs, that enhance the picture quality in a dark room. The LG has better reflection handling and a faster response time that leaves only a small blur trail when you watch fast action content like sports. The LG B8 also has better image accuracy when viewed from the side. The Samsung NU7100 has a lower input lag that makes it very responsive if you play video games.

The LG B8 is better than the Samsung Q9FN for mixed usage. If you like watching movies in a dark room, the LG will provide you with a much better experience due to its true blacks. Also for those who love sports, the B8 is a better option due to its faster response time, better viewing angles and very good gray uniformity. The Samsung Q9FN can get much brighter which makes it suitable for brighter environments, and it doesn't have a risk of burn-in.

The LG B8 is marginally better than the Sony A8F. The LG B8 has better input lag which is great if you play video games as it is more responsive. The Sony A8F has better gray uniformity that will please sports fans and supports a 1440p @ 60Hz input signal which will please Xbox One or PC gamers.

The LG B8 is marginally better than the LG E7P. The LG B8 supports a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that can make fast content crisper. On the other hand, the LG E7P has a dedicated soundbar and a better input lag when playing HDR games.

This is a remarkable TV for mixed usage. The LG B8 performs impressively well in almost every usage. It is great for movie watching in both SDR and HDR content. It has remarkable motion handling and low input lag that will satisfy gamers and sports fans.

What it is:
Movies in the dark. The TV will be used for watching movies in a controlled environment, directly in front, in a home theater way. Mostly only high quality content, like Blu-rays, UHD Blu-rays, streaming and a little bit of HDR.

The LG B8 is outstanding for watching movies. The picture quality is great for dark rooms due to the perfect blacks and great image uniformity. Combined with the excellent 4k resolution display, it makes this TV a great choice for the movie enthusiasts.

What it is:
TV Shows in a bright living room. The TV will be used in to watch TV shows, in a bright room during the day, from multiple viewing positions at different angles. The content watched has an average quality: cable, streaming, SD channels, etc.

The LG OLED B8 is impressive for watching TV shows. It has great reflection handing and great viewing angles so you can place it in large bright rooms. It will upscale cable content well and you can enjoy your favorite TV show without worries.

This is an awesome TV for watching sports. It has very good gray uniformity do panning shot will be clear from clouding, excellent motion handling for fast moving content and very good viewing angles to allow you to watch sport with a group of friends in wide seating arrangements.

What it is:
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.

The LG B8 is amazing when playing video games. It has an excellent low input lag, amazing response time and can support a multitude of resolutions. It is equipped with the black frame insertion (BFI) feature that will clear blur and make the image look crisper.

This LG B8 has outstanding performance when watching HDR movies. The real blacks and the wide color gamut offer an awesome picture quality when combined with HDR content. Highlights pop, colors are rich and the whole image is vivid and comes to life. It is an excellent TV for enjoying your favorite HDR content.

What it is:
HDR Gaming. The TV will be used to play HDR video games using consoles that support it or on current generation gaming PCs. Xbox One S, PS4 Pro, GTX 10 series and AMD RX series graphics cards.

This LG B8PUA is excellent for HDR gaming. It has a very low input lag when showing HDR content and a remarkably low response time, that makes it very responsive. The picture quality is excellent and most gamers will be happy.

Using the LG OLED B8 as a PC monitor is great. It has a remarkably low input lag and great motion handling. It feels very responsive and the good viewing angles allow you to sit close to it without experiencing uniformity issues. It will keep most people who want to use it as a PC monitor happy although you should keep in mind the OLEDs permanent burn-in risk.